Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-28
CHIN CHIN.
An American Lady's Attachment
for Chinese SacPr d Dog.

Tor a Chinese SaCfr q Dog
| NEW YORK, March 26.-He was born in
the imperial palace in Pekin. From the
day when he first saw the light he was
surrounded by all the luXuries and splen-
| dor that make the home OF the Emperor
| of China a realization OF the dreams OF
the "Arabian Nights" A magnificent
apartment was set aside and assigned 10
his exclusive use. A careful armour
was appointed, whose sole duty IL was 10
attend to his baths, and two other ser
wants spent their whole time In dressing
and feeding him, giving him the air In Ine
magnificent gardens OF the palace, and as
he grew older, assisting IN MS
education. No member OF the
| imperial family was more Ten
derly cared for or more jealousy guarded
from harm than he. AND yet Chin INN,
| OF his own accord, left his royal nome 10
become the pet OF an American lady; ne
chose to exchange the regal splendors OF
his birthplace for the republican slmPllcl-
ty OF an American home.
For Chin Chm was dog-one OF the
sacred dogs OF China. lie was or thac
rare BREED suppose 1t is species OF a
spanlel-that no one not Of noole rank 10
allowed to own a representative OF, ana
which, once possessed, is never Volunta-
| rily parted With-is valued above price.
| Into them, their owners believe, pass the
souls of their friends at death, ana to
them they pray as the Roman Cathollcs
| do to the saints.
Chin Chin was about years old, and
/ was one of the most highly priced OF the
| fifty sacred dogs kept in the imperial pal
ace at PekIn. His collar was of gold; his
bed was a rich India shawl; the chair in
which ne was placed when receiving the
petitions of members of the royal FAMILY
was made of the most expensive WOODS,
| richly carved and upholstered with the
most costly fabrics. The utensils used
about him were of silver and gold.
About six years ago Mrs. DIR. Margaret
A. Miller, the present wife of DIR. NJ. n.
Miller, Professor of Histology in the New
York University Medical College, was
| employed professionally IN the imperial
palace at Pekin, and lived for fiye months
| in apartments set aside for her within the
royal grounds and adjoining the Empe-
rOr's residence. In passing through the
room occupied by Chm Chin and his at
tendants one day, she was delighted by
the beauty or the little dog, and, STOPPING
down, picked him up and caressed him.
Ever after that the sacred dog and the
| American lady were the closest of friends,
and it was not long before he followed her
| to her room and slept there. From that
day he was no longer sacred il the eyes
of his imperial owner and his household,
and while he was cared for just as ten
derby, no more prayers were offered to
him.
By the time Mrs. Miller was about to
leave the palace she had become greatly
| attached to Chm Chin, and was very de-
Sirous of taking him with her. They had
| been constant companions for long time.
But she knew that it would be useless to
ask for him, as it would be sacrilege to
give away or sell one OF the sacred dogs,
y, hnA Loo raA nor
ter by association with a Western Bar
barian," but she intimAted that she would
| prize Chin Chin far above all the costly
gifts that were bestowed upon her. just
before her departure Chin Chin's
"armour' went to Mrs. Miller's apart
ments carrying upon golden salyer the
India shawl upon which the dog had slept
and his golden collar. The American
lady asked why those had been brought;
they would be useless to her without the
dog, and that she knew she could not
have. But the "armOur" replied: "These
are given to you; you are to take what
they belong to-" And so Chin Chin be-
came her property, and they were insep-
arabic ever after.
Chin Chin was not q large dog-he
weighed only three pounds and eight
ounces. He was beautifully formed,
with knowing eyes, a nose only about an
inch in length, beautiful upper teeth
the lower ones had been removed--a tail
that cooled up over his back and silken
hair twelve inches long. Although one
OF the most Intelligent of dogs, he was
rather slow to learn the English Ian
guage, but comprehended readily almost
anything that was said to him in Chinese.
Chin Chin never lost his aristocratic
tastes. A common Or shabbily dressed
person he had no use for. American or
Chinaman, but he showed the greatest
delight when one elegantly dressed ca
ressed him. On one occasion. when in
travelling, member OF the Chinese Lega-
ton at Washington was met, ne
was almost beside himself with
10y. If a fine carriage stopped
before his mistress door his pride was al
most unbounded, and be would wait i'm
patiently for the 1ootman to open the
door ana hand him in. He was extreme
ly fond OF travelling by sea or land. When
about to take long journey in the cars
Mrs. Miller WAS accustomed to dress min
like an infant, and he would travel hun.
dreds OF miles, making no sign TO disclose
mis- identity.
Although about 10 years old when he
died, few weeks ago, his capacity tC
learn never diminished. The provert
about teaching an old dog new tricks
had no application i'll his case There
was nothing he seemed incapable of learn
Ing except to talk, and. he even had &
language which hIs mistress understood
His courage was altogether out of pro
portion to his size. He seemed to con
slider it his duty TO protect his mistress
from harm on all occasions and would
attack any other dog which was at al
threatening in demeanor, even II it wa
ten times its size.
But Chin Chm died. The tenderes
care could not save him, and he passed
away-in many respects the most re-
markable dog on the continent-sin
cerely mourned by his mistress and BY
all who knew him. II. l.. WHITE.
A Tame Whale in the Pacific.